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1925
10
The district is not a self-contained one, and a study of the
Census figures would show that the action of the Council would not
solve the housing question. The building of the houses in East
Acton enabled a certain number of residents to obtain a better
type of house than they had hitherto enjoyed, but it cannot be
said to have relieved the overcrowding, or overcome the shortage.
The houses vacated by the fortunate few who obtained houses in
East Acton were at once occupied by others, in some instances
by people living up to that time outside Acton, and to this extent
the building of the houses has attracted a certain class cf residents
to the district, but has not contributed towards satisfying the demands
of every type of resident. It may quite fairly be stated
that employers of labour and others have done practically the
satire thing. The Great Western Railway Company have erected
100 houses, and have 15 more in course of erection. Mond, Nickel
Company have completed 16 houses, and have 4 more in course of
erection. The Goldsmith Company propose to erect dwellings
for people engaged in clerical work.
All these Companies have a definite object in view, the
accommodation of certain men who are engaged in a particular
occupation, or of a certain social position. It is doubtful if the
houses can be built at an economic rent. At any rate, it was
contended that the Council could not build the type of houses
originally intended at an economic rent.
These, and possibly other considerations, caused the Council
to abandon the idea of completing the development of the-estate
which was bought in East Acton, and most of the undeveloped
land has been rented or sold to private individuals. The Council
from the commencement, adopted the policy of renting or selling
the land at North Acton.
On the East Acton estate the Council erected 320 houses,
together with 9 army huts. The Council also bought and converted
3 flats in Bollo Bridge Road. So that altogether the Council
erected 332 dwellings.
At the housing inquiry which was held last year, the following
table was submitted to the inspector of houses erected in the district
since the War:—
By the Council under the Housing Acts 332
By private enterprise on Council land 152
By private enterprise on other land 490